Gabriel Antonio Moraga y León was born at Santa Rosa de las Fronteras, Sonora, New Spain (México), about 1765. He was the son of alférez José Joaquín Moraga y Gaona and María del Pilar León y Barcelo. Gabriel accompanied his parents to Alta California with Rivera in 1781. He enlisted as a soldado de cuera ("leatherjacket") at the Presidio of San Francisco December 1, 1783. He was soon promoted to cabo (corporal) and then to sargento. Gabriel was a member of the Monterey Presidio garrison posted as an escolta at Mission San Antonio de Padua in 1790 (1790 Census). He was appointed alférez (ensign) in 1806 and breveted a lieutenant in 1811, with a promotion to lieutenant at the Presidio of Santa Bárbara in 1817. He retired at Santa Bárbara after 37 years of military service in 1820. Gabriel was married twice: (1) Ana María Bernal y Soto (born Villa de Sinaloa) at San Francisco on August 2, 1784 (SFD Marriage 00086), and (2) Ana María Joaquina Alvarado y Amador at Mission San Gabriel on July 27, 1806 (SG Marriage 00960). Gabriel died at Santa Bárbara and was buried in the mission cemetery on June 15, 1823 ("Cementerio de la misión de Santa Bárbara" BP Death 00234).
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Children:
(with Ana María)
- Antonia Rafaela (Oct. 29, bap. Oct. 30, 1786 [SCL Baptism 00976]; m. soldado Venancio Ruelas y Siordia Mar. 8, 1803 [SC Marriage 00634])
- Ignacio María (1788-1810)
- Vicente José (1790-1802)
- María Inocencia (1791-1830)
- José Joaquín de la Santísima Trinidad (bap. May 28, 1793 [SC Baptism 01852]-Jun. 23, 1855)
- José de Guadalupe (1795-1821)
- José Domingo (1797-1822)
- Matilde de Jesús (1799-1801)
- María Luísa Matilde (1801-1810)

(with Ana Joaquina)
- María de Jesús Joaquina Maxima (May 11, bap. May 12, 1807 SC Baptism 02641)
- José Vicente Antonio (Oct. 9, bap. Oct. 13, 1808 SG Baptism 04233)
- José Benjamín Buenaventura (Jul. 14, bap. Jul. 20, 1810 SFD Baptism 04023)
- María Francisca de las Llagas (Sep. 17, bap. Sep. 19, 1812 SFD Baptism 04576)